The Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) performed a series of decoy purchases at marijuana dispensaries across the state and they failed miserably … except in Central Oregon where they continue a 100% compliance rate. In every region of western Oregon there was an unacceptable failure rate ranging from only 16% failure rate in Springfield-Eugene to 57% failure in Portland (3 of 7 failed). The reports can be viewed on the OLCC Website.

"These overall results are unacceptable," said Steve Marks, Executive Director of the OLCC in the press release. "One of the basic tenets of Measure 91 is the protection of children by discouraging their use of marijuana. Oregonians who voted for legalizing recreational marijuana implicitly told the cannabis industry to abide by public safety laws. Clearly they're not, and we need to continue this type of enforcement activity."

Dispensaries face a number of penalties including up to a 30 day suspension of their license and a large fine. The Oregon Drivers License and ID card has a large red border around the image indicating the person is under 21 years of age, the legal age to purchase cannabis in Oregon. Other states identification cards have different layouts and security enhancements, so a employee at a dispensary should be careful to check the age.

Central Oregon passed with flying colors during a December 28th check when they visited Bend and Madras and previously when they had 20 dispensaries in La Pine and Bend pass the decoy "sting" operation on December 19th. That makes this failure even more curious since that sting operation was publicized widely and retailers should have been aware the OLCC would be doing this in other locales. They even made a press release on the operation in Bend. The coming checks were no secret.